Westside shooters elect trial by judge

The suspects van, with rear window shot out during the high speed chase on Westside Road July 31, 2012.

Two men involved in last summer’s police chase and shootout on Westside Road will not be seeking bail and have asked for a trial in Supreme Court by judge alone.

Michael Edward Ellis and Shawn Adam Wysynski appeared by video from the Kamloops Regional Correctional Centre wearing prison issued red jumpsuits. They could be overheard laughing and whispering to each other during the proceeding, and had to be quieted by the justice of the peace on one occasion.

The two men were told they will not qualify for an early trial date because of the bail decision and may not see a preliminary inquiry until June or July. Both men seemed unfazed by this turn of events.

Their next appearance will be on Feb. 7, and a pretrial conference is expected to be conducted in the meantime.

The third co-accused, Ashley Collins, is still out on bail and did not make an appearance.

All three face charges of attempted murder and multiple weapon offences associated with a criminal organization.